Pathways to Employment for People with Learning Disabilities: A Plan for Action. Recommendations of a Consensus-Building Conference (April 30-May 1, 1990).

Brown, Dale S.; And Others

The President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities brought together a total of 61 educators, employers, helping professionals, people with learning disabilities, family members, and government policy leaders in a conference designed to identify issues and develop a strategic plan to improve employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities. The 61 delegates worked in both constituency groups and topic groups to brainstorm, clarify issues, and develop recommendations. This report provides transcripts of two introductory speeches: "The Problem, The Future, The Challenge: The Issue of Employability for Persons with Learning Disabilities" (Paul Gerber) and "Pathways to Employment for People with Learning Disabilities: The Process" (Dale Brown). The report then offers recommendations from the following topic groups: work preparation, vocational entry, reasonable accommodation, job advancement, socioadaptability, policy and legislation, attitudes, and definition and diagnosis. Responses of a panel, composed primarily of advocates for disability interests on key Congressional staffs, are then highlighted. The following needs were drawn out from the recommendations: increased public awareness, interagency cooperation, stronger national leadership, outreach to employers, transition services from school to work, and individual responsibility. Appendices provide: the agenda; topic papers used to initiate group discussion; work sheets used in brainstorming, prioritizing, and developing recommendations; the scheme used in identifying potential delegates; a planning committee list; and a participants list. (JDD)